Autobiographical narratives in Williams Syndrome: structural, process and content dimensions

Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with an
intriguing cognitive phenotype. Previous studies found support for an atypical
profile of fictional narrative production in WS (Gonçalves et al. The British Journal
of Developmental Disabilities, 56(111), 89-109, 2010). This study aimed at testing if
the same profile is observed when individuals with WS tell autobiographical
narratives. Using a new scoring system, structural (coherence), process (complexity)
and content (multiplicity) aspects of autobiographical narrative production were
analyzed in WS. Results suggest that individuals with WS produce autobiographical
narratives that are significantly less coherent and complex than typically developing
controls, although similar to controls in terms of content diversity. These findings
point out to deficits in autobiographical narrative production in WS, suggesting the
relative preservation of the social dimension of narrative production. These results
also support the hypothesis that fictional and autobiographical narrative production
may rely on different neurocognitive mechanisms.
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - bolsas SFRH/BD/35882/2007, PIC/IC/83290/2007